Teton Tested: Does Volkl’s New 100Eight Ski Upend The Legendary Gotama?

TGR's resident right turn expert Eric Rohr laying trenches on the new 100Eight from Volkl. Ryan Dunfee photo.

After more than ten years on the market, Volkl finally retired the Gotama – one my favorite skis in their line – and released a completely new ski to fill its (big) shoes, the 100Eight and 100Eight women's ski. Similar in sidecut dimensions to the old Gotama, the 100Eight measures in at 141-108-24 and comes in 173, 181, and 189 cm lengths for a retail price of $699.

Utilizing a whole new design, the 100Eight is engineered with Volkl’s 3D Ridge construction (see left), meaning the ski is made with a central raised ridge of multi-layered poplar wood wrapped in a fiberglass composite (no metal), resulting in a lightweight ski with very low swing weight and plenty of torsional stiffness for quick edge-to-edge power and a snappy, playful feel. Volk’s smart early taper tip and tail are designed for easier steering, and less chance of tip deflection in variable snow.

The 100Eight also has a full rocker running the length of the ski, which is matched to the sidecut and flex of the ski for easier carving on groomers and hard pack and solid floatation in powder. Jibbers be warned, Volkl went back to the old school ski design and ditched the twintip for a traditional square tail, so you probably won’t find these boards in the half pipe or terrain park, or being ridden switch.

Since Jackson Hole is my home mountain where I ski most weekends, both inbounds and out of bounds, I’m always on the search for a one-ski quiver that can handle any condition from hardpacked groomers to bumps to deep powder, as Jackson’s huge diversity of terrain and big elevation drop means you’re likely to encounter all three on the same day, often even in the same run.

The 100Eight's slight, full-length rocker is visible along the length of the ski. Ryan Dunfee photo.

Having a race background, I’m also looking for a stiffer ski with a quick racy feel that won’t buckle or bounce around at high speeds or in variable snow. I’ve always been a fan of longer skis, so I went with the 189 cm length, which has a 24.5 meter turning radius. I’m not sure of the exact weight, but they felt around 15% lighter than the original Gotama, with a lot less swing weight and a more playful feel.

The 100Eight Inbounds

Volkl matched the sidecut radius to the 100Eight's rocker, resulting in a ski that really dives into turns when put on edge. Ryan Dunfee photo.

I started out inbounds skiing a few groomed runs and variable snow off-piste. The 100Eight performed great, skiing very damp while high speed carving on the corduroy with a solid, stable feel. The lightweight construction and low swing weight was very noticeable, delivering quick edge-to-edge responsiveness. They felt almost as nimble as a race ski, but with the stability and performance of a fat ski. For a rockered ski, the 100Eight carved a solid turn from tip to tail without washing out and without any of the tip flutter I experience with a lot of other rockered skis. Off piste, they delivered as well, as the tapered tip maneuvered easily without catching and powered through variable snow quite well for a lighter ski. On the steeps, they were rock solid, with minimal chatter and great edge hold for a wider ski.

The 100Eight In The Deep

While no deep snow was available at the time of this photo, remain confident that Eric skied some of it on the 100Eight. Ryan Dunfee photo.

After a few runs inbounds, I ventured out the gates to ski some steeper untracked snow. While hiking up a short boot pack and sidestepping to the gate, the 100Eight again was noticeably lighter than my old Gotamas. Once out the gates and in the powder, these boards really found their calling. The full rocker floated well and the tapered tip sliced through steep, wind-affected snow with ease. For a mid-fat ski, they had no problem straightlining narrow chutes at high speed, and were equally stable ripping GS turns in open bowls, but still quick and maneuverable in tight trees and more technical terrain.

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I mounted the 100Eights with alpine bindings, but with their lightweight and solid performance in many conditions, they would make a great touring ski as well. The 100Eight proved to be an excellent and truly versatile all-mountain ski for soft snow conditions, performing well on groomers, variable snow and most of all in powder. The lightweight construction and low swing weight make them easier to ski and more forgiving than many skis I’ve tried, and at $699 they are more affordable than most. Could this be the optimal one-ski quiver for Jackson Hole?

The Bottom Line

Snappy, directional, and light, the 100Eight covers a good middle ground for skiers looking to do it all, as long as that doesn't include the park. Ryan Dunfee photo.

With a flat tail and no twintip, this is not a ski for the jibbers. And the racer looking for a full-on race ski feel may prefer a stiffer pair of boards with metal laid into the core. But those looking for a lightweight, forgiving ride that can perform in all conditions, especially soft snow, will really enjoy the 100Eight. The 24.5-meter turning radius also puts it in a middle ground between many skis that are either below 20 and really easy to negotiate tight trees and bumps on but lack straighline stability, or more aggressive skis whose turning radius is often near 30 meters and offer the opposite compromise. Fans of Volkl’s legendary Gotama will be well pleased with the changes made to the reincarnated 100Eight ski, which is also available in a women's version; both of which are on sale at evo.com for $549.99 right now.

–Eric Rohr

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